Bangkok: "Pakornwut" has called on the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) to release evidence regarding its decision to dismiss the complaint against "Saksiam". Pakornwut said that the NACC's statement on the dismissal should clarify how intent was proven when submitting the asset declaration. He urged the NACC to disclose all relevant documents and evidence, revealing that a petition has been submitted to the Speaker of the Parliament, with all necessary signatures collected and drafting expected to be completed by May.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Pakornwut Udompipatkul, a party-list MP and deputy leader of the People's Party, emphasized the need for the NACC to address the allegations against Mr. Saksayam Chidchob regarding the intentional concealment of asset declarations. He argued that the NACC should focus on proving whether Mr. Saksayam intended to conceal assets before 2019, as actions following the Constitutional Court's ruling do not establish intent prior to that year.
Critiquing the NACC's role, Pakornwut pointed out that the commission cited the standard for criminal cases, which requires proof beyond a reasonable doubt for indictment. He clarified that it is the court's role to establish guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, not the NACC's, which should only function similarly to police or prosecutors by presenting sufficient evidence to file charges.
Pakornwut questioned whether the NACC verified the evidence presented to the Constitutional Court, particularly the financial trail of share transfers in Buricharoen Limited Partnership. This evidence purportedly shows the money originating from Mr. Saksiam and ending with "Mr. S," alleged to be a nominee. Pakornwut demanded that the NACC justify its claim that this evidence indicates no intent to conceal assets and called for the release of the fact-finding report, evidence gathering report, opinions of responsible NACC officials, and meeting minutes related to the case. He asserted that these documents must be disclosed as they are no longer classified once the case is closed and noted that the NACC has faced disciplinary action in the past for not disclosing completed case files. Pakornwut warned that if the NACC fails to disclose these documents within the next week, he will personally submit a request for their release.
Regarding the People's Party's petition to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Pakornwut confirmed that the necessary signatures have been collected, and a joint working group among opposition parties is drafting the petition. While he does not foresee issues with the collected signatures, he emphasized that the petition's finalization requires careful consideration and is under discussion within the working group. The drafting is expected to be completed by May, with its completion timeline to be determined after a working group meeting early next week. Pakornwut noted that obtaining the NACC documents promptly would aid the petition's drafting process.